Published Wednesday, 11 April 2012
The Balmoral cruise ship is recreating the Titanic’s voyage. (© Pacemaker)
Tim Rex, 56, had to be airlifted off the MS Balmoral on doctor's advice shortly after it set sail from the Irish coast.
The ship had to circle round to be closer to the shore so that the helicopter could reach it.
Mr Rex, a BBC cameraman, was recovered at around 7pm on Tuesday evening. He has been taken for "urgent" treatment, and the Balmoral is now back on course.
A statement from the broadcaster said: "Unfortunately a BBC staff member was taken seriously ill while covering the cruise to the site of the Titanic.
"Following advice from the ship's doctors he has been taken ashore to receive urgent medical treatment."
A spokeswoman for Fred Olsen, which is running the cruise, said that the ship had to turn around and make a 20 nautical mile detour in order for Mr Rex to be airlifted off.
She added: "At Fred Olsen and Titanic Memorial Cruises the safety and well-being of all guests and crew is paramount, and this decision has been made in conjunction with Titanic Memorial Cruises, as charterer of 'Balmoral' for this voyage."
The Balmoral left Southampton on Sunday on a 12-night commemorative cruise to mark the centenary of the sinking of Titanic, which struck an iceberg in the Atlantic Ocean in 1912.
On board are 1,309 passengers, around 50 of them with direct family links to the 1,514 people who died in the tragedy 100 years ago.
The ship is due to stop at the exact moment and exact spot the Titanic went down on 15 April, it is expected to keep its schedule and arrive in time for the memorial service.